Monday, March 26, 2018

Amaad Rivera launches campaign for Hampden State Senate Seat

SPRINGFIELD, MA – On Monday, March 26th, Democrat Amaad Rivera launched his campaign for the Hampden State Senate seat by visiting the City Halls in Chicopee, Springfield, and West Springfield to drop off the more than 1,000 signatures he and his campaign volunteers collected over the weekend. Rivera’s signatures should make him the first candidate in the district to have the 300 certified signatures required to earn a spot in the September 4th, 2018 Democratic Primary.

Amaad Rivera had a busy weekend, marching and then speaking on Saturday at Springfield’s March for Our Lives demonstration, where he praised the student leaders who organized the rally: “Voices like theirs stopped a war, desegregated our schools, and I know they will stop mass shootings.” On Sunday, Rivera went out with supporters to knock on doors and ask voters for their signatures. He also attended Planned Parenthood's event for the Healthy Youth Act and the Ward 1 Democratic Committee's voter registration drive.

Rivera is a former Springfield City Councilor, and most recently served as the State Policy Director for U.S. Senator Edward Markey. As a Springfield City Councilor, Rivera championed an anti-foreclosure ordinance to protect homeowners from predatory banks, stopped a biomass plant that would have posed a long-term public health problem, and expanded access to city services for non-English speakers.

“Over the weekend while talking to thousands of residents throughout the district, I heard a clear desire for bold new leadership, and I’m running to represent those folks,” Rivera said. “As State Senator,” Rivera pledged, “I’ll stand up to the Trump administration and fight to put our progressive values into law on Beacon Hill by working for quality, affordable healthcare for everyone, protecting our immigrant communities, and ensuring every student in Massachusetts has equal access to a bright future.”